A Happy Boy by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
page 128 of 138 (92%)
page 128 of 138 (92%)
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Although Oyvind now had a good income as agriculturist of the district,
he still lived in his little room down at Pladsen, and helped his parents every spare moment. Pladsen was cultivated from one end to the other, but it was so small that Oyvind called it "mother's toy-farm," for it was she, in particular, who saw to the farming. He had changed his clothes, his father had come in from the mill, white with meal, and had also dressed. They just stood talking about taking a short walk before supper, when the mother came in quite pale. "Here are singular strangers coming up to the house; oh dear! look out!" Both men turned to the window, and Oyvind was the first to exclaim:-- "It is the school-master, and--yes, I almost believe--why, certainly it is he!" "Yes, it is old Ole Nordistuen," said Thore, moving away from the window that he might not be seen; for the two were already near the door. Just as Oyvind was leaving the window he caught the school-master's eye, Baard smiled, and cast a glance back at old Ole, who was laboring along with his staff in small, short steps, one foot being constantly raised higher than the other. Outside the school-master was heard to say, "He has recently returned home, I suppose," and Ole to exclaim twice over, "Well, well!" They remained a long time quiet in the passage. The mother had crept |
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